Vision and Mission 2002-2010

Archived page for 2002-2010 strategic plan

The Vision and Ultimate Goal

Over the next eight years, the ultimate goal for the University
of Hawai'i at Hilo is to become the premier residential campus in
Hawai'i, while also providing an exemplary education, with aloha,
to commuting students, non-traditional students, and distance learners.
Already known for our success in Hawaiian language revitalization and
for using the island as a learning and research laboratory, UH Hilo will
become noted for:

Leadership in studies of Hawaiian, East Asian, Pacific, and indigenous
cultures

Leadership in studies of the tropical environment

Active learning in research, internships, and community service

Scholarship in theoretical and applied areas

Commitment to community development

The Mission

The University of Hawai'i at Hilo is a comprehensive, primarily
baccalaureate institution on the island of Hawai'i, offering a rigorous
education in a caring, personalized atmosphere. As a regional, state-supported
university, UH Hilo serves students from Hawai'i Island and from around
the state. Additionally, UH Hilo enrolls students from the U.S. mainland
and from many other nations, especially from Asia and the Pacific islands.

The primary mission of UH Hilo is to offer high quality
undergraduate liberal arts and professional programs. Selected graduate
degree programs are also offered where need warrants and the university
has strong expertise. UH Hilo offers "hands-on" learning, service,
and leadership opportunities and especially encourages close student-faculty
interaction and collaboration on research projects. The university encourages
theoretical and applied research, and benefits Hawai'i Island and the
state through resource centers, community partnerships, continuing education,
and distance learning programs.

Hawai'i's incomparable natural and cultural environment
serves as a learning laboratory, the setting for many teaching, research,
and service activities. The university also offers unusually rich opportunities
for intercultural exchange, since we are located in the most ethnically
diverse county in the U.S. and attract students from around the world.
Providing an environment that is responsive to the needs of a diverse
student population is central to the UH Hilo philosophy. As the university's
housing capacity grows, increasing numbers of students will benefit from
immersion in our stimulating, diverse, and supportive residential environment.